ot. Of course. Well, we'll call it _one_ of Dame
Fortune's kicks."

"You mean the--cattle stealing?" She was staring straight ahead of
her, and into her eyes had leaped a sudden look of fear which she
dared not let him see.

But Jim was too busy with himself to even notice her hesitation. He
had no room to realize her emotions just then.

"Yes," he said, almost viciously. "It's about that--I s'pose I ought
to say 'because' of that." She glanced at him swiftly, but waited for
him to go on. He did so with another nervous laugh. "I'm 'fired,' Eve.
Kicked out by Dan McLagan, and branded by him as a suspected
cattle-thief, as surely--as surely as they've found a bunch of his
cattle branded with my brand."

They had reached the gate, and Eve turned facing him. There was a
curious look in her eyes. It was almost one of relief. Yet it was not
quite. There was something else in it. There was incredulity,
resentment; something which suggested a whole world of trust and
confidence in the man before her.

"Nonsense," she cried. "You--you accused of cattle stealing? You? He
must be mad. They must all be mad."

"They?"

The girl suddenly flushed. She had said more than she intended. But
there was no use drawing back.

"Oh, yes," she cried hotly. "I didn't mean to let you know. I've heard
the story. Of course I have. Who, living in such a place as Barnriff,
wouldn't hear it?" she hurried on bitterly. "Directly they told me I
laughed at them. But--but they do suspect you. Oh, Jim, I think I hate
these folks. You--you suspected of cattle-duffing. McLagan ought to be
ashamed of himself. It's cruel in such a country as this. And the
evidence is so ridiculous. Oh, Jim, if it weren't so horrible it would
be almost--almost laughable."

"Thanks, Eve. And that--is really what you feel?"

She looked him in the face with wide, wondering eyes.

"Why, of course it is."

The man smiled ever so slightly. He felt better. A few more loyal
friends like this and his position would be considerably easier.

"But they are all branded with my '[double star]'s," he went on
doubtfully.

"And what of it? It's a blind. It's to put folks off the real track.
I----" She broke off, and her eyelids were suddenly lowered to hide
the fear with which her own words again inspired her. As she did not
continue Jim seized his opportunity to pour out something of what he
felt at her unquestioning loyalty.

"Eve," he cried, his eyes lighting with the lov